Zombies Doomsday

Chapter 10: The Vanguard Outpost

The Grey Grid was crying. That was the way Idris Cole could describe the bad rain that was hitting the strong roof of the Vanguard Outpost. Outside these walls, the broken city of Sector Zero was a bad place with old metal, broken glass and a lot of sick people walking around. The rain did not make the smell of death go away it just made it worse. It mixed the smell of blood with the smell of bad air and old things. If you went out in that rain you would die slowly and painfully. The bad rain would eat away at your clothes. Leave you open to the sick people.

Inside the Vanguard Outpost, everything was different.

Idris stood by the window of what used to be a military place. He looked out over the land. The outpost was on a hill, which gave them a good view of the road below. For the first time in a year, Idris was not cold. He was not hungry.. Most importantly he was strong.

He looked at his hands. Was amazed. A few days ago he was hurt and bleeding. He had been betrayed by Vance, his team leader. Vance had shot him. Left him to die. Idris still remembered that. It made him very angry. Vance had taken their food and water. He thought Idris's life was not worth much.

That one bad thing Vance did changed everything. When Idris was almost dead something strange happened. The 100x Critical Rebate System woke up in his mind.

Idris turned away from the window. The inside of the outpost was very different from the outside. Some lights made everything bright and clean. There were boxes of food, medicine and other important things along the walls. It was a start.

In the middle of the room, Rhea Knox was sitting. She was a scary woman. She was taking apart a gun. Cleaning it. Her hair was silver and cut in a way. Her eyes were cold and strong. When Idris first met her she was. About to die.. Idris helped her and now she was strong again.

Rhea looked up at Idris. She stopped working on the gun. Waited for him to talk.

The sensors around the outpost are okay Idris she said. The bad rain is keeping the people away. We have some time to get ready.

Idris nodded. He walked over to a box of supplies. Good. We need to use this time to get ready to fight. Vance and his team are not going to leave us. They think they own Sector Zero. When they find out we are here they will come for us.

Let them come Rhea said. She was not bragging she was just sure of herself. I used to work with the mean people. Took things from others.. Now I do not have to follow their rules. When they come I will make sure they do not leave.

Idris smiled. He liked that she was loyal to him. The system had brought them together. Their bond was stronger than that. They had both been hurt by people and they knew that trust was important.

Idris knew that they needed more than just loyalty and strength to survive. They needed a plan.

He opened a box. Found some old defensive gear. Most of it was useless.. He found a riot shield that could help them.

Rhea stand up Idris said. His voice was strong and commanding.

Rhea got up. Stood still. She waited for Idris to talk.

Idris walked over to her with the riot shield. You are the one who protects this place he said. You are the one who keeps the people away.. You need good gear to do that.

He gave her the riot shield. I give you this, Rhea Knox he said. I trust you to keep us safe.

Rhea took the shield. She knew what Idris was doing. He was giving her a gift. It was not just a piece of metal.

I accept your gift Idris she said. I will protect this place.

When Rhea took the shield the air in the room changed. The sound of the rain went away. Everything was quiet. Idris heard a sound, in his mind like a bell ringing.

The system started talking to Idris. It said that he had given Rhea a gift and it was a thing. The system was happy. It rewarded Idris.

Idris was excited. He had gotten a thing, a Titan-Grade Aegis Energy Bulwark. It was very strong. It would help them survive.

The room was quiet again. Idris looked at Rhea. She was ready to fight. They were a team. They would protect their home.

The Aegis was a piece of technology. It was not like the shields that were big and heavy. The Aegis was a black metallic gauntlet that fit on the user's forearm. It had a core that pulsed with a blue light. The metal was cold and very light. It felt very strong.

Idris thought about the details of the Aegis.

Item Description: Titan-Grade Aegis Energy Bulwark. It was a defense mechanism. When it was turned on it made an energy shield that could stop strong attacks. The shield could even turn the attack into a shockwave. The energy core got its power from the air around it so it would not run out of energy.

Idris looked at the Aegis. Then at Rhea. She was very surprised. Was trying to understand how powerful it was. She had seen military machines but she had never seen anything like this for personal defense.

Idris told Rhea to take off her arm guard. She did what he said. He put the Aegis on her arm. The device started working and adjusted to fit her arm perfectly.

Idris told her to turn it on. Rhea made a fist. The Aegis started glowing. A big blue energy shield. Filled the room. It was very powerful. Did not feel heavy at all.

Rhea was amazed. She moved her arm and the shield followed her. She even hit the shield on the floor. It did not break. The shield just absorbed the impact.

This is impossible Rhea said. A tank could not break this shield. I can feel it responding to my thoughts.

Idris was happy. He knew they had something special. The system had given them more than a shield. It had given them a way to protect themselves.

You are my partner, Rhea said. We will not just survive. We will take control. The people who think they can attack us will be surprised.

Rhea turned off the shield. Looked at Idris. She was very loyal to him. I will protect you, Idris. Nothing will get past me.

Idris knew she meant it.. They needed more than just a shield. They needed food and water. The biggest problem in the world now was not the people or the sick. It was hunger.

Idris remembered when he was very hungry. He had eaten belts just to feel like he was eating. He had been shot for food and water.

Idris went to his bag. Got out some food and water. It was not much. It was what people usually fought for. He gave it to Rhea.

We have a shield Idris said.. We need food and water to survive. We cannot always go out. Look for it.

Rhea understood what Idris was going to do. You are going to use the system to get food and water.

Idris nodded. He gave the food and water to Rhea. Used the system to get more. The system gave them a machine that could make water and a machine that could make food.

Idris was very happy. He went to the water machine. Got a cup of clean water. He gave it to Rhea. Drink.

Rhea was very happy. She had not had water in a long time. She drank the water. Felt much better.

It's perfect she said. You have not just made a place. You have made a paradise. If people knew what we had they would try to take it from us.

Idris and Rhea now had what they needed to survive. They had a shield, food and water. They were ready to face whatever came their way. The Aegis and the machines were the key to their survival. The Aegis was a shield that could protect them from harm. The machines could give them the food and water they needed to live. Idris and Rhea were very happy to have these things. They knew they could make it through the times. The Aegis and the machines were their hope, for a future.

Idris said, his voice cold and hard "Let them try." He walked over to the food maker. Pressed the button to get some food. A soft bell. A small square block of food wrapped in white paper dropped into the tray. He picked it up feeling the warmth of the made food. We have water we have food and we have defenses Idris said. We are not just survivors, Rhea we are in charge of this place.

Before Rhea could say anything a loud alarm blared through the room. The sensors Idris had set up around the edge of the hill were flashing red on the screen. Idris dropped the food. Ran to the monitoring station his fingers flying across the old keyboard. He pulled up the camera feeds and the black-and-white pictures showed the dark rainy road leading up to the outpost.

We have people moving on the side Idris said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the blurry figures in the rain. There are five of them. They are moving carefully using the old cars for cover. They are not sick they are human.

Rhea stepped up beside him her silver eyes fixed on the screens. The black armor on her arm looked strong. Look at the signs on their coats she said. The crossed. The old gear. It is the Scavenger Coalition. Vance sent his people to find us.

Idris felt a surge of anger in his chest. Vance, the man who had left him to die. The man who had taken everything from him. He knew they would come eventually. He did not think they would find the outpost so quickly. The energy signal from the system must have been picked up by the Coalition's scanners.

They are testing our defenses Rhea said, her mind working on a plan. They are looking for guns or guards. If they find our defenses weak they will call for more people to come and attack us. We need to stop them before they can send a message.

No Idris said softly a smile spreading across his face. Rhea looked at him confused. Idris if they send a message Vance will bring people and strong guns to our gates.

I know Idris said, his eyes on the screen.. I want him to bring them. I want Vance to see that the man he left for dead is now in charge. I want him to see our power before we destroy him completely.

He turned to Rhea.. We are not going to let these scouts go back to their camp Idris said, his voice low and deadly. I want you to go there and attack them. Show them no mercy. Leave one alive. Bring him to me. I have a message for Vance.

Rhea. Walked towards the heavy steel doors. She did not take her gun. She did not need it. She had the armor on her arm and she was very powerful. She was going to tear them with her bare hands.

The doors slammed shut behind her echoing in the room. Idris stood alone watching the screens. His heart was beating calmly. He was ready for a fight. He was no longer the victim he was the one in charge.

Down on the ruined road the rain was coming down hard. The five scouts moved slowly their guns raised. They were men but they were not prepared for an attack from below.

A shadow moved in the rain, fast and silent. One of the scouts vanished. There was no scream, no sound of a fight. He was just gone.

The other scouts turned around their guns sweeping the space. Where is Jax? one of them shouted. The leader spun around his gun raised. Stay close form a circle. We have an enemy nearby.

Before they could get into position the air to their left seemed to distort. Rhea stepped out from behind a car the rain hitting her armor harmlessly. She did not look like a survivor she looked like a warrior. Her silver eyes glowed with a light and the black armor on her arm hummed with power.

Fire the leader screamed. The scouts shot at Rhea. She did not move. She raised her arm and a big blue shield appeared in front of her. The shots hit the shield. It did not break. It just got stronger.

The scouts stopped shooting their guns overheating. They could not understand what they were seeing. Rhea stepped forward the shield moving with her. She closed the distance between them in a split second her speed terrifying. She did not use a gun she used the shield.

She swung her arm. The shield hit the two scouts on the right. They flew through the air dead before they hit the ground. The leader fell to his knees his hands raised in surrender. Please he begged, do not kill me. I will tell you everything. Just let me live.

Rhea turned off the shield. Walked towards the kneeling man. I am not going to kill you she said coldly. My leader wants to talk to you. She grabbed the scout. Dragged him back to the outpost.

Ten minutes later the steel doors opened. Rhea walked in dragging the scout behind her. She threw him onto the floor, where he collapsed in a heap. Idris stood in the center of the room his hands behind his back. The scout looked up his eyes wide, with shock. He saw the rooms, the food and the water. It was a sight that changed his understanding of the world.

Who are you? The scout stammered, his eyes darting between Idris and the machines.

Idris walked slowly toward the kneeling scout. His boots clicked softly against the concrete. He stopped inches away from the scout. Idris looked down at the man with an expression of authority.

Look closely Idris said. His voice was quiet. It carried a lot of weight. Do you recognize Idris he asked the scout.

The scout squinted. He tried to remember all the faces he had seen in the wasteland. Then it hit him. Idris was wearing clothes and looked healthy but the scout knew who he was.

The scout whispered, his face turning white. You are Idris Cole he said.. Vance said you were dead. He said the horde killed you in Sector Zero. He brought back your tags.

Vance lied Idris said. He shot Idris in the leg. Left him to die. Vance thought Idris was weak and would not survive.

Idris leaned down. He brought his face level with the scout.

But Idris did not break Idris said. The Grey Grid made him stronger. Now Idris is in charge of this territory.

Idris stood up. He turned his back on the scout. Walked to the window. The window looked out over the storm.

You will leave this outpost alive Idris told the scout. You will go back to your camp. Find Vance. Tell Vance that Idris Cole is alive. Tell him that Idris has built a place with a lot of resources and good defenses.

Idris turned his head. He looked at the scout.

Tell Vance to come and try to take it Idris said. Tell him to bring all his soldiers and attack the Vanguard Outpost. Idris is waiting for him.

The scout nodded. He was very scared. Yes, he said. I will tell him. I promise.

Rhea grabbed the scout. She pulled him out of the room. Threw him out into the rain. The scout had to go tell Vance that Idris was waiting for him.

Idris stood alone by the window. He watched the scout run down the highway. The scout disappeared into the night. Idris had set a trap. Vance would hear about the food and water. Would attack the outpost. When he did Idris would be ready.

Then the system made a loud noise. It was a warning.

Warning the system said. There is a biological threat coming.

Idris looked at the warning. His heart skipped a beat. A big swarm of mutated creatures was coming to the outpost. They would arrive in four hours.

Idris was scared. A big swarm was bad news. It was like a disaster. Even the strong walls of the Central Sanctuary were afraid of a swarm.

Idris was not going to run. He was going to fight. Vance and his army would arrive soon. They would be caught between Idris's walls and the big swarm.

Rhea came back into the room. She was wet from the rain. The scout is gone she said. He will tell Vance about Idris soon. Vance will attack the outpost at dawn.

Idris smiled. He was happy. Let Vance come Idris said. The system is bringing the swarm. We will let them fight each other. Then we will kill whatever is left.

Rhea smiled too. She understood Idris's plan. We will hold the line she said.

We will hold the line Idris agreed. We will be strong. When the sun rises everyone will know that the Vanguard Outpost is the place, in the world. Idris will be the king.